Although the deck is undercover, there is still some exposure to the elements. When the Modwood became wet, it became slippery.

DuraGrip PU anti-slip sealer has a P4 rating which makes it suitable for areas which can become wet. The addition of perfectly round glass beads in the first coat of the sealer creates a texture that is slip resistant, yet very easy to clean. Unlike most anti-slip coatings the resulting finish is not abrasive.

In addition to increasing slip resistance, the sealer will protect the wood from the 'hundreds of tiny feet' that use this area each day.

Grip Guard anti-slip floor treatment has been applied at Qantas Catering in Tullamarine, Melbourne to ensure floor safety for employees at the facility.

In this case, the installation of Grip Guard anti-slip treatment was a proactive or preventative measure that was taken before an injury had occurred. It had been noticed that the slip resistance of the floor was not adequate and management quickly responded before any incidents were reported.

Not all businesses are proactive enough to eliminate the risks of slips and falls before an accident has happened. WorkSafe statistics reveal that slippery floors cause thousands of accidents resulting in injury every year, many of them serious.

Slips occur when a person's foot loses traction with the floor surface. This is most likely to occur when walking on slippery floor surfaces such as those that are highly polished, wet or greasy.

Falls can result from a slip or trip but many also occur from low heights such as steps and stairs. Stair nosings are another area of concern - all commercial stairs require a minimum of 50mm of anti-slip stair tread nosing which has a 30% luminous contrast to the tread.

To book at Pedestrian Safety Review at your workplace, ring Grip Guard on 1300 30 GRIP or contact us by email to make an appointment.

To meet Australian Standards, ramped surfaces require a higher slip resistance than that of level surfaces. When outdoors, the slip resistance requirement is even greater.

Achieving the prescribed slip resistance in the long term can be a challenge. Non-slip coatings can be an effective solution in the short term but, with most products, the materials added to the coating to create slip resistance wear away with traffic after a surprising short period of time.

Grip Guard carborundum safety plates are highly slip resistant and extremely hard wearing, providing an excellent long term solution that help Australian property owners, builders and facility managers to meet their safety obligations.

Carborundum safety plates were recently installed in Melbourne onto a timber footbridge. The client was impressed with the aesthetic of the finished installation as well as the cost effectiveness of the product.

With constant changes to the NCC and the BCA, it is no small task for builders, renovators and property owners to ensure that they are compliant.

In regards to floor safety requirements, there have been a few recent changes that impact on pedestrian safety.

In regards to stair nosings, the NCC has changed the code to specify that the stair nosings return (down the front of the stair tread) is not to exceed 10mm, whereas in the past the code specified a 25mm drop. Any new buildings or major renovations require that stair tread nosings comply.

The slip resistance required has not changed however, the type of rating has changed from a ramp slip rating to a pendulum slip rating. The slip rating required will depend whether the stair are internal or external.

Although not a change to the NCC, in addition to slip resistance, there must be a minimum of 30% luminance contrast between the stair treads and the stair nosings.

Another important change to consider is the BCA's requirement that residential stairs be slip resistant. In the past, this requirement was only applicable to commercial buildings. However, the recent changes prescribe a P4 or R10 slip resistance for internal timber stairs in private residences. Without this, an owner will be unable to obtain their occupancy certificate.

This slip resistance can sometimes be difficult to achieve on sealed timber, marble and high gloss tiles. However, Grip Guard has a floor safety solution for almost any pedestrian flooring. For help choosing the correct floor safety solution, phone us to discuss your requirements.

Impervious floors are used extensively in areas that have stringent hygiene requirements, as well as high safety standards. Hospitals, catering, aged care, and dining are among the many sectors that have benefitted by the application of DuraGrip PU non-slip sealer.